By J.N. Campbell
The influence of Champion grass horse and MGISW English Channel both on the racetrack and in the breeding shed cannot be overstated. After stints at Hurricane Hall, Lane's End and finally, Calumet, we sadly lost him late in 2021, but he still has an active group that continues to carry home his legacy.
Who is his most successful offspring? Maybe it's Chicago's own, MGISW The Pizza Man? Or how about MGISW Channel Maker, who just added another graded trophy to his collection last weekend at the ripe old age of nine? Or what of back-to-back Grade I winner Heart to Heart and lest we forget, the GI Travers S. hero V.E. Day?
While this worthy debate rages around your nearest watering hole, don't forget to consider the resume of English Channel's MGISW and MGSW War Like Goddess.
George Krikorian's 6-year-old mare is entered as the 3-5 morning-line favorite in Thursday's GII Glens Falls S. over the turf at Saratoga Race Course. The two-time defending champion returns upstate after running sixth in the GI New York S. June 9 at Belmont Park.
The Bill Mott trainee is making what is becoming a regular appearance at the celebrated track. She is 4-3-1-0, with her only miss coming in last year's GII Flower Bowl S., when she was beaten a neck by the Peter Brant-owned and Chad Brown trained, Virginia Joy (Ger) (Solider Hollow {GB}), who returns here at 8-1 on David Aragona's line.
While Virginia Joy finished one position ahead of War Like Goddess in the New York S., her 4-year-old stablemate GISW McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was third. Owned by Klaravich Stables, the bay filly was facing older females for only the second time in that spot and she will be 7-2 on the morning-line in the Glens Falls as she stretches out to 12 furlongs for the first time.
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